separation anxiety

Is your dog’s separation anxiety making you both miserable?

End the suffering – for you and your dog

If your dog’s separation anxiety is wreaking havoc on your life, we’re here to help. Let us teach your dog to stay home alone so you can live without worry.

Separation Anxiety is an authentic panic disorder.

When left alone, dogs experience any of a range of symptoms indicating mild anxiety to uncontrollable panic.

Resolution of this harrowing canine disorder requires training.

Dogs with Separation Anxiety may:

Pace without ceasing
Excessively pant to the point of dehydration
Bark, whine and howl
Involuntarily urinate and defecate in the house
Destroy crates, furniture, door jams, window ledges, and break windows
Cause serious physical injury to themselves

Common Causes of Separation Anxiety

Moving or re-homing
Changes in the family, like the loss or departure of a family member
Regular, overlong absences
A frightening experience when left alone
A highly traumatizing event
Airline transport of puppies

Schedule your free and non-obligatory, 30-minute introductory phone consultation.
Call 805-845-8458, or click to email

Going forward? What to Expect, Step by step:

Free 30-minute Consultation.

Conduct Video Assessment.

Begin Customized Training Package.

Take a deep breath. Help is on the way.

Intensive 4-week Program

Your Customized Treatment and Support Package: $750

We begin with a minimum 4-week training program to build a strong foundation for longer periods of stress-free home alone time, and estimate the amount of training required to reach your goals. Each week you will receive one live video assessment, daily customized training plans we call “missions” to execute with your dog, daily feedback on each of those missions, and ongoing email support. Savvy and motivated owners find they can often continue the process on their own with less and less support.

Sara Munro Dog Training serves dogs and their families suffering from separation anxiety in the Santa Barbara Area and across the country. This innovative remote training protocol allows us to help wherever you are, providing active support every step of the way. Schedule your free 30-minute Initial Consultation.

Get Started Now

You and your dog deserve relief.

Call 805-845-8458, or click to email to schedule your free
and non-obligatory, 30-minute introductory phone consultation.

Common Misconceptions

Myth: Dogs communicate their anger about being left alone by urinating, defecating, barking incessantly or destroying your stuff.

Truth: Your dog is panicked and afraid you’re not coming home. His behavior indicates an involuntary loss of emotional and physiological control, not a planned and spiteful protest of your absence.

Myth: It’s your fault. Many will tell you that you’ve spoiled your dog or somehow brought this on yourself.

Truth: Separation Anxiety has many causes. Individual dogs respond to stressful life events differently and anxiety arises from within the dog.

An Invitation: Please release yourself from blame. It’s no one’s fault. Now is a good time to offer you and your dog some much needed kindness and compassion. Having a dog with this disorder is stressful enough.

Get Started Now

Why SA Doesn’t Resolve On Its Own

It seems reasonable to assume an SA dog will “get over it,” and that an equally reasonable approach would be to hold off on training awaiting that result. Won’t he realize you come back every time? It would be nice if this was true, but unfortunately, it’s just the opposite. In most cases, dogs with SA don’t get better, they get worse.

Leaving an SA dog alone triggers his fear, which floods his body with stress inducing chemicals. Daily repetition of this triggering results in a hyper-vigilant dog who is always watching you and waiting for signs you’re leaving. As your dog’s eyes follow you, he becomes an expert at identifying the signs of your departure. While putting on a cap and hiking shoes may suggest a fun walk, putting on your work shoes, grabbing your purse and car keys may predict your exit for work without him.

Each time you get ready to go out, your dog watches with growing unease as the clues that he’ll be left alone stack up. This ongoing state of low-level anxiety builds to full-blown panic as you leave, propelling his body to release a cascade of stress chemicals. This repeating cycle of exposure to stress and anxiety typically increases sensitivity to your departures, making it impossible for him to feel calm or safe when left alone. Fortunately, with training, and for some severe cases with the help of medication, dogs can and do learn to stay at home alone.

Remote Technology Protocol

Computer, tablet, and smart phone technology greatly enhances behavior modification for Separation Anxiety. They enable us to watch your dog from a distance and desensitize him to your departures in a highly systematic and strategic way, without causing distress that can prolong the process. With platforms like Zoom we can accelerate training, and save you time and money.

Meet your Trainer

Nothing gives me more pleasure than teaching my client’s dogs to behave. Whether in a training session or on a group walk, I seek every possibility to create positive learning opportunities. I am thrilled by the moment they get it, when you can see that light bulb switch on, when they understand good things are coming their way and they offer you their best behavior. Then doing the right thing becomes fun and training progress accelerates. Regardless of breed or age, I approach every dog with curiosity and respect. Because I’m passionate about getting the best results for both you and your dog, I look for the best in your best friend, and seek to combine the specific and unique ingredients that will help you live a stress-free, fulfilling life together.